Tonight's picture was taken in June of 2009. Mattie was in the outpatient clinic at the hospital and up to his antics. He and Jenny (one of his art therapists) were having a wheelchair race. You wouldn't believe some of the things we did to try to encourage Mattie to use his body and strengthen his muscles. Of course at that point we still thought we were fighting the disease and were hopeful for remission.
Quote of the day: You have to be patient with Alzheimer’s. Once you understand that it’s a medical condition, you become a little more compassionate. You get less frustrated. ~ Kim Campbell
I absolutely appreciate the sentiments of tonight's quote! It is all very true. Yet there are some days I manage it better than others, as it is easy to get frustrated especially when I am tired. I can't be Florence Nightingale 100% of the time, and must accept that I am only human.
This morning, my dad and I had an appointment with the foot doctor. Given my dad's history of diabetes, he has neuropathy in his feet and we have found it is a good idea for him to see a foot doctor every 9 weeks. When I first met this doctor, I thought he was socially awkward. But I have come to appreciate that he is just very scientific, but clearly knows his stuff. He tells me I am doing a great job at keeping my dad's feet clean, dry, and well maintained. I had a great foot doctor in the city, but since I moved in August of 2021, I needed to find someone closer for my dad. As moving my dad from one place to another is an act of God.
Given that I have come to appreciate this new foot doctor, I made an appointment to see him today as my big toe nails hurt and have issues. Turns out even my feet experience trauma and he believes my nail issues are not an infection but from pressure and trauma on the toes. Seems fitting for me!
On an aside, I have noticed whenever I drive my dad in our neighborhood, his first question is.... do I know this person (walking along the road)? Typically I will respond, no! But today, I lost it. I asked him how on earth I could possibly know anyone when I never leave the house? Of course that comment was over his head, but this is an example of how I can get frustrated. I am a prisoner in my own home, tied to chores, cleaning, cooking, doctor appointments, managing bowel movements, and the list goes on. So meeting a neighbor is SO far from my reality, and yet my dad clearly has NO perception whatsoever of our daily existence.
Later today, I spent some time at the computer downloading photos from the Foundation's walk from the internet. I then began creating some slides (which you see below) that will get featured in our Walk 2022 video. Making the video is a labor of love, and I am sure no one would miss it if I did not create it. But it is a matter of documentation, and slowly but surely I am doing it!
d
No comments:
Post a Comment